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Nov 9 not quite misc.exhausted.me

Decided I am not going back over the hell that was dental this past week. More happening this week. And next year.

No, I wanted to share the "food crime" I made today:

So the other day I saw a post, ostensibly about food crimes:

Butter Chicken Poutine
Folks, that sounded tasty, and I asked

ilyena_sylph if I could. She said yes.
The sauce was store bought as typical for me, I added browned hamburger, and I made home fries from scratch.

Tasty meal was had. Very filling. Our son was over, so I had the joy of feeding him in addition to us. And tonight will be Mozzarella Ravioli with Garlic Marinara with mother-in-law. Food is love, people.

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30 in 30: Highlander

AO3 Link | Artist at Work (100 words) by Merfilly
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Highlander The Series
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Characters: Tessa Noel [Highlander]
Additional Tags: Drabble
Summary:

Tessa is preparing a charity piece

Tessa inspected the illustration, then glanced at the pieces. Her keen eyes noted where each piece would intersect with one another, mentally measuring just where the notches needed to be cut.

Moving from sketches to full drawing, and then to modeling three-dimensional figures in clay, to now being able to machine the final sculpture as she envisioned it had been satisfying. More, she would know that her art would bring joy to the local children's hospital. The sun room would be awash in a kaleidescope of colors after the glass was inset in the frame.

That in mind, she began.

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30 in 30: Doctor Who

AO3 Link | In the Flesh (100 words) by Merfilly
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Doctor Who
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Characters: Donna Noble, Jack Harkness
Additional Tags: Drabble, First Meetings
Summary:

Donna and Jack Meet

"Jack Harkness?"

The man flashed a brilliant smile at the lovely lady asking if that was his name. "In the flesh."

"At least you have clothes on this time," the woman sighed. "Donna Noble. We have a friend, a bit of a madman with a blue box, in common."

"Ahh, I see. And… clothes?" Jack asked, the smile only shading toward a bit more professional.

"Bored one night, asked to see the kind of people that had been idiotic enough to get in the box." She then smiled warmly. "You were the only one in the buff."

"Hope you enjoyed."

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Fandom Fifty: #36

2011 - I don't remember much of this year. It's the last year at the Evol Empire, first year at the lab... so a lot of change.

Thor - Do I have issues with the myth breaking? Yes. But as a superhero movie goes, it was a fun romp. (Personal opinion, the Thor franchise is a bit weaker overall than some of the others).
Captain America: The First Avenger - I loved this one. It's the only one of the CA movies I unilaterally love.

Rise of the Planet of the Apes - OH HELL YEAH. Even having a bunch of actors that I don't usually care for in it could not kill my love of this! And yes, I did watch the originals, but still love this modern take on it.
War Horse - Still uncertain why I chose to watch this, but wound up enjoying the wandering tale greatly.

Green Lantern - On the list because, much as I love Hal, I despised this movie so much in the first 15 minutes I stopped watching it.
Transformers: Dark of the Moon - The novelization was better, and it spawned epic AUs from me and my co-writer at the time.

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30 in 30: Forever Knight

AO3 Link | Lessons In Living and Death (100 words) by Merfilly
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Forever Knight
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Characters: Janette DuCharme
Additional Tags: Drabble, Introspection, Canonical Character Death
Summary:

Janette, reflecting over lessons

Lessons in Living and Death

There had been a time when Janette had been certain she knew just what life, and death, were all about. She could have all of the pretty things she wished, craft games to entertain her, and enjoy Nick's company.

Then he arrived in her city after a long absence, and things began falling apart. From his near-killing of their creator to his wanton embroilment in human policies and lives, Nick was upending every rule of her existence. His partner and his love interest alike added to the chaos.

Meeting Robert changed everything.

Losing him was a bitter lesson of loss.

Entry tags:

rl: meme

Meme Time

Seen most recently at

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Go to your Works page on AO3, look at the tags, and see what the answers to these questions are.

Find me at

Merfilly.

1. What rating do you write most fics under?
3885 (of 5236) are General Audiences.

2. What are your top 3 fandoms?
DCU Comics (1059)
Star Wars - All Media Types (1002)
Forgotten Realms (358)

3. What is your top character you write about?
Dinah Lance (444)

4. What are the 3 top pairings?
Dinah Lance/Oliver Queen (120)
Dinah Lance/Slade Wilson (113)
Dick Grayson/Roy Harper (108)

5. What are the top 3 additional tags?
Drabble (1332)
Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence (826)
Introspection (555)

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30 in 30: MAS*H

AO3 Link | Opinions Shared (300 words) by Merfilly
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: M.A.S.H. (MASH) [TV]
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Characters: Sherman T. Potter, Mildred Potter, Margaret J. "Hot Lips" Houlihan
Additional Tags: Triple Drabble, Post-Canon
Summary:

Sherman wanted Margaret's opinion

Opinions Shared

"Thank you, Mrs. Potter," Margaret said, accepting the hot mug of coffee.

"Dear, when will you call me 'Mildred'?"

Margaret shook her head. "The same day I call your husband something other than Colonel," she answered with a smile, and they laughed. That would be never, then.

"You could, you know," said husband opined, shifting in his rocking chair. "I do appreciate you swinging out here."

"I had friends at Lost in the Woods," Margaret said, making her old friend smile for the use of that particular nickname for the local army base. "Of course I was going to come here before heading to Ft. Bliss."

Mildred had settled in her own rocker, watching the vibrant woman that was like a daughter to Sherm.

"So what are your thoughts on the nursing schools from my last letter?" Sherman asked his friend and former head nurse.

"My biggest advice is to avoid any of the diploma schools," Margaret said seriously. "We're seeing a serious change in how nursing is handled, and the traction for degree programs is there." She looked vindicated and hopeful all in one. "Parker Memorial, up in Columbia has an excellent degree program. It's not the closest to you, but it's the one I think will do your granddaughter best in the long run."

"Told you," Mildred said with a nod.

"So you did," Sherman said. "From what me and the missus read up, it looks like they're taking the transition to full degrees seriously, and I know some of the staff up there."

Margaret had to smile at that. "I'd be surprised if you didn't know at least one doctor on staff at all the teaching hospitals by now. Between your children and grandchildren deciding to follow your later career."

"Better for them," Sherman avowed, nodding sagely.

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30 in 30: SW:PT

AO3 Link | Exasperations (100 words) by Merfilly
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Star Wars Prequel Trilogy
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings
Characters: Shmi Skywalker, Anakin Skywalker
Additional Tags: Drabble, Dialogue-Only
Summary:

Shmi doing the exasper-fond-sigh of “Anakin”... until she can't.

Exasperations

"Mom, I can make it work, give you someone to help you."

"Oh Anakin."

"Please?"

"Yes."

"What if he decides to sell you?"

"Anakin, he won't. You are too useful, and he doesn't know how to keep you healthy."

"Then… I'm never going to grow up."

"Ani!"

"Your new friends are very lost."

"I know, Mom."

"Are you being careful?"

"The Master Jedi made Watto mad, but I think it will turn out alright."

"Oh?"

"I mean, he's so wizard!"

"Of course, Ani."

"You have to hold on. I'm here. I can fix it all!"

"Ani…"

"Please, Mom."

"Anakin…"

"MOM!"

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30 in 30: SW:TCW

Continuation of "Padawan Plight"

AO3 Link | Chaos Behind Them (1263 words) by Merfilly
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Star Wars: The Clone Wars [2008] - All Media Types
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Barriss Offee/Ahsoka Tano
Characters: Barriss Offee, Ahsoka Tano, Luminara Unduli, Anakin Skywalker
Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Kriffing Sith Plans
Summary:

The pieces have been placed, and while Ahsoka and Luminara are a part of it, neither lets it impact Barriss's peace.

Chaos Behind Them

Having aided the 501st in retrieving their man, and all the revelations that had brought, Luminara rested a hand on Anakin's shoulder, despite the fury and betrayal coursing through him.

"Do not let Tiplar's and Tup's sacrifice be in vain," she counseled. "Keep your men here in the field, with the 41st, to take advantage of Echo's intel. I will take him back to Corsucant, deliver him to Master Che for healing."

"But he—"

She squeezed, and Anakin was so unused to other Jedi braving his rage, touching him even!, that he subsided. "You cannot hide that knowledge. I, on the other hand, have no difficulty burying it beneath my Perfect Jedi Serenity," she said, her eyes amused despite the severity of where they stood in the war, to use that phrasing.

It worked, as Anakin sagged a little and huffed. "You and my Master."

"Sometimes, yes," she answered that, to add more levity, helping Anakin balance.

He groaned. "Don't … yeah, no, don't tell me any more about that." He searched her face, then took a deep breath. "Take Ahsoka. I have faith in your skill, Master, but you have seen her, you have worked with her."

"Her command of Teräs Käsi will protect the secret, and she is going to rival Kenobi for lightsaber skill, it is true." She inclined her head, privately thinking that if it grew too stressful, it would allow the padawan a chance to see Barriss as well.

"Don't tell me any of your plans," Anakin said, agreeing to the fact he was the major weakness in undoing it all, given who they knew the Sith was now. "She heard everything, made the jump to connect the pieces, so between the two of you — and Echo — I will trust in this being ended sooner rather than later."

"Thank you." She let go of him, then went to tell Gree he would be handling the battalion under Skywalker's command.

"No."

"He's my vod, my batch brother!"

Ahsoka looked at Fives and then moved to take his hands. "Trust me, Fives. You can't go along, none of you can. And you? I need you to look after Skyguy. You can't expect Artoo to handle it all by himself, and Rex is going to be busy without me here!"

She ached for him, where she wasn't a simmering cauldron of anger for all that she and the other Jedi had pieced together from Echo's intel. If they hadn't hit that listening station before the tragedy with Tup —

— well, they had. So Fives was distracted, and so was Rex, keeping them from putting the pieces together.

Fives had straightened, then he saluted her and left. She would trust him to stay close to Anakin, to keep her master calmer, even if none of the boys knew why he was so angry now. She finished throwing things in a bag, and headed to medical to catch Kix before she and Master Unduli took Echo away from him.

She had no doubt he was putting the pieces together… and she would warn him not to do anything risky until she got back.

The Master and Padawan, two pieces of different pairs, stepped out of the Council chamber and each relaxed from the strain in their own way. Ahsoka visibly sagged, then slumped against the wall without any cringing for what the Master might think. Luminara said nothing about it, still impressed by how well the girl had done under the long interrogation of all they had experienced. For her part, she caught the hem of her sleeve and started worrying at it, a small fidget that soothed her but could easily be stopped should someone walk out.

"When you go see Barriss, you cannot say anything," Luminara dutifully reminded Ahsoka.

"I know. Even if this didn't need to stay top secret, I wouldn't break her peace with it," Ahsoka said sincerely, knowing the words had to be said. "Will you be going there after they say we can leave?"

"I thought I'd let you have the first night back. I'll come tomorrow, if duty allows, and take her for a meal."

Ahsoka flashed a smile, wanting to hug the woman, but that was not Luminara's way, mostly. "Thank you, Master."

"Of course, Padawan."

Barriss did not betray her joy outwardly, too composed and controlled to be less than professional as she finished reviewing the medicine schedule with the family that had been her last appointment of the day. Ahsoka, however, could feel it in the Force, and relaxed even further to know that what they were was something that still mattered to Barriss. She really was grateful to Master Unduli for allowing her to come first.

Then again, no one on the Council really wanted the mere padawan to be as heavily involved in the operation they were planning as Master Unduli could be.

Commander Deron, Barriss's counterpart in this community outreach program, gave a brief nod to Ahsoka, then cleared his throat when the family left. "Ma'am, I can handle locking up with the others. Please go. It's not often Commander Tano is able to get back here."

Barriss opened her mouth, but the look from her right hand in all of this made her nod once, and turn to get her outer robe on, so she could go back with Ahsoka to the Temple.

"It is good to see you," she said, coming close enough that they were almost touching, walking out side by side.

"I'm pretty glad your master was willing to let me tag along," Ahsoka said blithely. "I've got to take an exam," she added, truth and her cover story for why she was on planet. In actuality, she'd had the pieces from Skyguy's side that made everything click into place, and had been the convincing part of their hours' long testimony to the Council.

"I'll help you study, if it is a subject I know," Barriss volunteered. "Your quarters?" she asked, a little shyly, but if her actual master was in Temple too, she wanted the privacy offered by Ahsoka's. "As it sounds like you are here without your master."

"Master Obi-Wan is en route, but not expected until tomorrow," Ahsoka agreed. He was coming to be part of the end game, she knew, while Master Tiin had been dispatched to help Skyguy, and their men, in the campaign against the Techno Union's latest captured planet.

"I… how soon is the exam?"

Ahsoka laughed merrily. "I won't need much study time."

Barriss blushed, but smiled down — not so far now — at her girlfriend.

Luminara took the fact that Barriss squeezed Ahsoka's hand in parting, in her own full view, as one more piece of her padawan's healing and growth from the awfulness of this war.

"I am looking forward to catching up on your life these last several weeks, Barriss," Luminara said once Ahsoka had left them.

The quiet smile she got in answer made her heart swell with pride for the padawan she did care for. If they could just shield her from the coming days' strife, all might stay on the best track.

"I wish to hear all about your weeks, and how our men are doing," Barriss agreed, as she did miss the people, if not the violence.

They settled into their catching-up, and Luminara firmly pushed away the horror behind why she was here, even as she decided to recommend allowing Barriss to help with the aftermath.

She thought her padawan would feel relief to save the men from their intended fate, after all.

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30 in 30: Transformers G1

AO3 Link | When They Met (200 words) by Merfilly
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Transformers G1
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Jazz/Optimus Prime
Characters: Jazz [Transformers], Optimus Prime, Spike Witwicky
Additional Tags: Double Drabble
Summary:

Sometimes Jazz isn't smooth

When They Met

"So how did you two meet?" Spike asked. To his surprise, Optimus laughed while Jazz reached up and rubbed the back of his neck, a mannerism he'd picked up from Spike's dad.

"Ratchet and Wheeljack did most of the vetting of who would be in the unit closest to me," Optimus began, voice rich with joy and amusement.

"Ratch cornered me when I popped in to drop some intel," Jazz admitted. "I'd already heard stories about Prime, ya see. He was larger than lfe just from the first fight he saved us all in! And I was curious, but… still not really where I thought a Legend like that should be meeting those of us who were doing the dirtier work of spying."

Optimus brought his hand over to Jazz's backplates, and Spike grinned a little, seeing the shape of it.

"Ratchet brought him to interview with me, and I was completely fascinated by all the people Jazz had met before the war, all the stories he had, using them to try and distract me from getting to know him."

"What can I say, Prime? You were YOU, and I was intimidated!"

"I am very glad you got past that."

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30 in 30: Transformers: Shattered Glass

AO3 Link | Pick Ups (100 words) by Merfilly
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Transformers: Shattered Glass
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Characters: Ratchet [Transformers], Ironhide [Transformers]
Additional Tags: Drug Abuse, Drabble
Summary:

Ironhide walks in on Ratchet

Pick Ups

"Pretty sure the sharp side goes in other mechs," Ironhide drawled after walking in, unannounced, to Ratchet's bay.

The other mech flicked his optics up once, but didn't move much past that as he finished injecting the stim.

"You want me available for your fight, I get to use the syringes how I want," Ratchet growled at him.

"Your own cocktail?"

"Don't trust 'Jack's," Ratchet agreed.

"Unicron smash us all from that!" Ironhide agreed. "I let him juice my frontliners, but won't touch it." He sidled closer. "Got more? Chromia was enthusiastic."

Ratchet chuckled, found another, and handed it over.

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30 in 30: Transformers (Bayverse/Bumblebee)

AO3 Link | New Opportunities (232 words) by Merfilly
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Bumblebee [2018], Bayverse Transformers
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Characters: Charlie Watson [Bumblebee], Mikaela Banes [Transformers 2007]
Additional Tags: First Meetings
Summary:

Charlie may run her own company, but she still believes in running her own errands.

She gets to meet someone else who is a gear-head like she is.

New Opportunities

Charlie pushed over the counter at Harry's and looked at the man on the floor. "Nap time, really?"

"Hadn't had a customer all day," the man said, pushing his hat back and slowly sitting up. "Thought you had a job."

She laughed, shaking her head. "I'm the boss and the owner, and yet. When I need parts, I come to you, my old friend."

He brought himself up, and started to say something… but the door opened and this time he heard the jingle. Both of them looked over to see and hot body with grease and overalls trying to hide the fact.

"Mikki, haven't seen you in forever!" Harry called.

"Yeah, been out of town, but got my dad's garage back and running."

"Harry, you been holding out on me? You know I like investing in gearheads like me," Charlie said to that before walking over. "Charlie Watson."

Mikki's eyes went huge. "THE Charlie Watson, dive champ and motor innovator?"

"So usually it's one or the other, so kudos to you."

"Mikaela Banes," Mikki offered. "Harry gets away with Mikki, but Mik is what most of my friends use these days."

"Well, I hope to earn that right, Mikaela," Charlie said, offering a business card. "I've got to get a few things, but give me a call?"

"I'm here for parts, and have a car on lifts, but yeah, I will."